Materials about the potential impact and programmatic aspects of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are now available following workshops held recently in Burlington by Homeshare Vermont and AARP-VT, and in West Lebanon by the Vital Communities campaign.
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are additional living quarters on single-family lots that are independent of the primary dwelling. ADUs can be used to house family members who wish to live close by yet independently, or can be rented out. ADUs are an important tool for developing affordable housing, as they can be inexpensively constructed and do not require additional land for development. Although municipalities must allow ADUs under Vermont law, municipalities have many options to encourage their construction through zoning bylaws.
Among the Burlington workshop materials are a fact sheet prepared by Burlington Planning & Zoning Department, based on questions received during the workshop, as well as links to external resources on ADUs. The West Lebanon workshop featured Kol Peterson, author of Backdoor Revolution: The Definitive Guide to ADU Development.